Friday 2 – Thursday 8 December
Friday 2 December, Santa Parade and Family Fun
Donaghadee Town Centre
Free Event
Fireworks 6.45pm
Festive stalls and entertainment followed by the ever popular Santa parade.
Info: visitdonaghadee.com, 028 9188 8667
Friday 2 and Saturday 3 December, Creative Peninsula Christmas Craft Fayre
Ards Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards
Free admission
10am – 5pm
Enjoy a unique shopping experience and purchase that perfect, handcrafted gift.
Info: ardsarts.com, 028 9182 6846
Saturday 3 December, Christmassy Christmas Show of Christmassy Christmasses!
The Space/SERC, Castle Park Road, Bangor
£5 per person. Suitable for children aged 5+
2pm and 6pm
Presented by Squash Box Theatre, this show is a stuffed stocking of seasonal surprises, puppets, songs and comedy.
Info: ardsarts.com, 028 9181 0803
Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 December, Santa in the Stables
Portaferry Visitor Information Centre
Free Event
Sat 10am – 6pm, Sun 1pm – 5pm
Children’s activities and Santa 1pm – 5pm (both days), plus your chance to buy something unique for friends and family this Christmas! Whilst in Portaferry, why not check out the festive activities at Exploris Aquarium and The Carol Ship on Strangford Lough. Full details on our website.
Info: visitardsandnorthdown.com, 028 9182 6846
Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 December, Magical Moments
Throughout Bangor Town Centre
Free Event
Sat 10am – 6pm, Sun 12noon – 6pm
A weekend of free, family, festive fun throughout the town centre with music, performance, children’s entertainment and much more!
Info: visitardsandnorthdown.com, 028 9127 0069
Sunday 4 December, Santa Fun Run, Community Carol Service and Christmas Switch On
Donaghadee Town Centre and First Presbyterian Church
Free Event
Fun run 2pm, carol service and switch on 7pm
Info: visitdonaghadee.com, 028 9188 8667
Friday 9 – Thursday 15 December
Friday 9 December, Silver Jewellery Workshop
Ards Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards
£40 per person
10am – 4pm
Spend a day of fun in the workshop and create a silver necklace or earrings. Booking essential.
Info: ardsarts.com, 028 9181 0803
Friday 9 and Saturday 10 December, Pip Utton is… Charles Dickens reading A Christmas Carol
Bangor Castle (Fri) & Portico, Portaferry (Sat)
£10, includes mulled wine and mince pies
After a sell-out show in Ards in 2015, we are delighted to welcome back Pip’s wonderfully atmospheric incarnation of Charles Dickens.
Info: ardsarts.com, 028 9181 0803
Saturday 10 December, Festive Sculptural Textiles Workshop
Ards Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards
£20 per person
10.30am – 3pm
Learn how to make your own festive robin using traditional textile techniques and skills in a modern and innovative way. Booking essential.
Info: ardsarts.com, 028 9181 0803
Saturday 10 December, Christmas Arts Scheme
Ards Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards
£15 per child
10am – 3pm
This creative workshop will include Christmas arts and crafts, Jumping Clay and festive drama games. Suitable for children 6-12. Booking essential.
Info: ardsarts.com, 028 9181 0803
For a full listing of our Christmas events within Ards and North Down Borough Council see visitardsandnorthdown.com/Christmas
Make Someone’s Christmas
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Exhibitions
Exhibition: Toy Stories
Wednesday 30 November – Sunday 29 January
Long Gallery, North Down Museum, Bangor
This fun exhibition will look back at toys enjoyed by all from across the decades.
Exhibition: All Wrapped Up for Christmas exhibition
Saturday 3 – Saturday 24 December
Ards Crafts, 31 Regent Street, Newtownards
A showcase of handcrafted gifts and ideas for Christmas at this free to visit exhibition.
Exhibition: Juniper
Thursday 8 December – Saturday 21 January
Ards Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards
A series of atmospheric richly detailed and fantastical illustrations depicting the story of Juniper and her companions.
Friday 9 December 2016 – Saturday 21 January 2017
Sunburst Gallery, Ards Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards
A solo exhibition of unique, textured and colourful sculptures by Ellie Niblock.